Supporting our graduate teachers

By Fiona Dawson, Principal Advisor, Learning and Leadership Development at Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS).

This is human education: to educate 'is this bringing forward and promoting growth, helping to grow’ (Francis 2022).

Our approach to supporting graduate teachers in Catholic schools is informed by our strategic plan, MACS 2030: Forming Lives to Enrich the World (MACS 2023). With a shared commitment to ‘… empowering great staff to lead great schools [we will] carefully select, invest in and empower our employees in order to deliver excellence across our system’ (p. 11).

The professional journey for this year’s graduate teachers has started. In recognising the critical role of teachers in the classroom, ‘what teachers know, do and care about’ (Hattie 2003, p. 2) we can truly understand their direct impact on the lives and the learning experience of young people. We are committed to attracting, supporting and retaining dedicated educators who are passionate about their profession.

Jesus forms those who will teach in his name

Teaching is a beautiful profession … because it allows us to see the people who are entrusted to our care grow day after day. It is a little like being parents, at least spiritually. It is a great responsibility! Teaching is a serious commitment … Such a commitment can be intimidating but remember that no teacher is ever alone: they always share their work with other colleagues and the entire educational community to which they belong (Francis 2015).

The teacher is a key role that features prominently in our Catholic story, with Jesus himself recognised as teacher – demonstrating the importance of the teacher in our Catholic context. Gospel accounts often identify Jesus as a preacher addressing large crowds, most famously in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5–7).

The gospel passage emphasises important elements of Jesus’ teachings, including the blending of traditional wisdom with new understanding, and the promotion of community values such as humility and service. The gospel also demonstrates how Jesus can be seen as a role model for modern educators, encouraging a teaching approach that respects the past while embracing fresh perspectives.

At MACS, we aim to achieve a sense of belonging and connectedness to our rich history across the Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Melbourne. There are many supports in place for graduate teachers, in collaboration with our colleagues across the regions.

The Graduate to Proficient Teacher program commences with a Commissioning Mass and Induction Day for first-year teachers during Term 1. Regional professional learning sessions follow in Term 2, with a third learning opportunity hosted at the Catholic Leadership Centre in Term 3.

Commissioning Mass

Induction plays a vital role in welcoming individuals into a community, helping them settle into their new roles, supporting their understanding of the workplace context, and equipping them with the knowledge and resources needed for success.

In our Catholic education community, our commitment to embodying the values of Jesus shapes our identity and guides our collaborative efforts toward shared goals. Our mission to serve others and strive to reflect Christ in all that we do distinguishes us as a Catholic education system.

By grounding our graduates in our Catholic story, fostering a sense of belonging and integrating them into the broader Catholic community, we lay the foundation for a meaningful and successful journey together.

This year’s Commissioning Mass, held 14 March, welcomed our first-year graduate teachers, fostering a sense of connectedness and belonging. Archbishop Peter A Comensoli personally greeted the new teachers and presided over the ceremony, highlighting the significance of this gathering.

Through the Commissioning Mass, graduate teachers were warmly invited to share the gospel and accept the invitation to engage in the places of encounter, which are our Catholic schools. By welcoming these new educators into the broader Catholic community and our shared mission, we aim to foster their sense of belonging as they begin their journey in the Catholic teaching profession.

Professional learning

MACS is committed to inspiring, supporting and welcoming new graduates into the Catholic teaching profession.

This commitment to commissioning and welcoming new graduate teachers creates the foundation for personal, systemic and organisational growth while ensuring a strong start within our Catholic context. Through this, we cultivate a high-quality teaching workforce dedicated to delivering exceptional learning experiences and enhancing student outcomes.

Ongoing professional learning is available throughout the year, with support provided at both regional and central locations. Program learning days will showcase the benefits of being part of Catholic education, emphasising the system’s commitment to developing skilled educators and fostering collegial relationships that contribute to improved student learning outcomes.

Graduate teachers in our system will be supported to build their understanding of the Accreditation to Teach in a Catholic School and to teach Religious Education and Lead in a Catholic School, the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) registration process, and how to shift from Graduate to Proficient in the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (AITSL 2014). They will also be introduced to key specialisation support and resources from MACS teams to support their teaching.

Registrations for these professional learning sessions can be made via the CEVN website https://cevn.cecv.catholic.edu.au in the Online Professional Learning (OPL) application.

• Regional Network Days:
  (primary and secondary first- and second-year graduates)
  • Eastern Region: Tuesday 13 May OPL code: 25GRD010A
  • Combined Northern and Western Region: Tuesday 20 May OPL code: 25GRD010A
  • Southern Region: Friday 23 May OPL code: 25GRD010A
• Central Network Day: Tuesday 5 August OPL code: 25GRD010A
  (primary and secondary first- and second-year graduates).

Learning and Leadership Development team

It is the role of the Learning and Leadership Development team at MACS is to:

• welcome new graduate teachers to Catholic education and set them on a career path
• support graduate teachers to build knowledge and understanding of accreditation, registration, teacher standards and specialisation resources available through MACS teams
• upskill in-school mentors in their knowledge and understanding of the Australian Professional Standard for Teachers and the VIT registration process so they are well placed to support graduate teachers. It is important to note that it is expected in a school setting, that the panel has a registered teacher who has participated in the VIT mentor training program.

By providing new graduate teachers with professional learning, we will support them as they return to their schools and classrooms with new understandings. They will be actively encouraged to continue to learn with and from one another and be formed in their vocation. Their renewed passion and enthusiasm will motivate us to strengthen our commitment to nurturing and unlocking their full potential.

References

Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) 2014, Australian Professional Standards for Teachers, AITSL, Melbourne, accessed 4 April 2025 www.aitsl.edu.au/standards.

Francis (Pope) 2022, ‘Pope Francis: A true educator accompanies, listens and dialogues’, Vatican News, 21 April 2022, accessed 24 April 2025 www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-04/pope-francis-a-true-educator-accompanies-listens-and-dialogues.html.

Francis (Pope) 2015, Address of His Holiness Pope Francis to members of the Italian Union of Catholic School Teachers, Managers, Educators and Trainers [UCIIM], 14 March 2015, The Holy See, accessed 2 April 2025 www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2015/march/documents/papa-francesco_20150314_uciim.html.

Hattie, JAC 2003, Teachers make a difference: What is the research evidence?, Paper presented at the Building Teacher Quality: What does the research tell us? Australian Council for Education Research (ACER) Research Conference, 19–21 October 2003, Melbourne, Australia, accessed 4 April 2025 http://research.acer.edu.au/research_conference_2003/4/.

Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) 2023, MACS 2030: Forming Lives to Enrich the World, MACS, East Melbourne, accessed 4 April 2025 https://macs2030.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/MACS%202030%20-%20Forming%20Lives%20to%20Enrich%20the%20World.pdf.

Fiona Dawson can be contacted on 9367 0228 or fdawson@macs.vic.edu.au.

Image: Participants at the Graduate to Proficient Professional Learning Program, held at the Catholic Leadership Centre on 23 August 2024